Flying with almost 3 yr old

[poochie]

Last year she fly in my DD lap. Next year we are flying to WDW. I know she will need her own seat, but are we expected to bring her car seat????

I would appreciate all comments suggestions and words of wisdom from those who have traveled with toddlers. I am so looking forward to sharing WDW with my little GD.

 

[MiracleMom]

We flew with our son, who was 4 at the time, in July.
I see you are from WNY, we are from CNY -
We did not bring a car seat on the plane, and he was fine.
He was VERY excited, being his first time flying - we were the ones that were worried !!
Good luck & have a great trip !

 

[all4fun]

The FAA recommends using a carseat on the plane for any child under 40lbs:

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

The FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do.

Also, if you'll be renting a car then it's MUCH preferable to have your own seat than to rent one, and if you use it on the airplane it is also much less likely to be damaged in transit.

We only stopped using the car seat on the plane after four because ds was getting too tall to sit comfortably in one with the lack of leg room they usually give you in coach. Our last two trips we have found that not using the car seat also has its down sides for him because the lap belt still doesn't fit him right and he has to slump a lot to bend his legs at the edge of the seat (and he's tall for his age too -90% for height). So I recommend using the car seat - at age three she should be very comfortable in one on the the plane still.

hth

 

[disneymarie]

We just flew this week with my grandson 2 1/2 but 38 pounds and 37 inches. He is as big as a 3 yr old. He used the toddler seat we have not as wide as the reg. car seat his parents use each day,this gave Mom and Dad room too. We actually did rent a car and needed it.

On the way home we had some really, really bumpy weather and the 5 point harness held him secure, Also he knows he must sit in the car seat, routine.
My dil was a flight attendant and has seen her share of lap babies and toddlers not secured to not fly without her little man being secured 5 point.
Have a great trip.
Di

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We took the car seat on the plane last winter when my DD was almost three. She did fine and sat in it very nicely.

On the way home, we decided to forego with the hassle and just check the car seat. She was a wiggly, wiggly worm and would not sit still ... I found myself wishing for the car seat.

 

[bumbershoot]

I will be using our Cosco Scenera for our 3 year old on our next flight.

Our first flight with him, he was 16 months, and I held him on my lap and it was miserable. Squirmy, curious, wiggly...my arms were sore for days from holding him. Last year when he was just over 2 we used the Scenera and it was SO much better. He could sit and "read", play with stickers, draw...just like in the car.

So this year will be the same. There's just no way he'd stay seated in a lapbelt, and I would hate to be the parent kicked off b/c my son wedged himself under a seat and refused to come out.

 

[lindsmom]

Our daughter, now 6, has flown many times in her car seat (always)... the main reason is that we rent a car at our destination and don't want to pay the outrageous fees for a car seat from the rental! My only tip is that on the airplane the buckle really sticks into their back - I try to lay a sweatshirt or folded jacket behind her then strap her into her 5 point seat. We couldn't figure out why she was so squirmy, then we saw the huge bump from the plane buckle.

 

[dishguy1977]

I've flown with my DD4 when she was 3 one time in the car seat and one time without. It was easier to have her in the seat as she could unbuckle herself and we had to keep telling her to stay buckled. However, travelling with the seat in the airport with connecting flights was a PAIN!

 

[Disneylush]

We don't rent a car and we don't use any care seats. kids do just fine on the plane.

 

[Mom2JPL]

We just got back a few weeks ago, our 2 and 3 year old didn't use a car seat, just the seatbelt, and our 1 year old was in our lap. Everyone did great! The kids knew that once the seat belt was on, that was it...no getting up and moving around! There was another child on our first flight, probably around 3 and he was roaming around the plane during the flight, screaming because he didn't want to sit in his seat...and he was one child with 4 adults! So, you know your child best..will they stay in the seat or will you need the car seat to contain him? (or her, I forget, sorry!).

 

[5 for WDW]

We always use a car seat on the plane until our kids are 4. We do not use a rental car, we bring it for the plane only.

For us, we know the kids are safer and they know they are not allowed to get out of their car seats. So, there is no whining to get up and walk around, etc. Last month our DD was just shy of 4 and we had her in her car seat watching the portable DVD player or coloring. When we landed in Orlando the couple in front of us turned around and complemented me on how quiet and well behaved she was for the entire flight. I am not a huge fan of flying so, knowing she is safely in her car seat and not bouncing all over makes my flight much more enjoyable as well.

We hit some pretty bad turbulance coming home to NY, I was glad that she was safely in her car seat and not in that big airplane seat with just a seatbelt.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I will be using our Cosco Scenera for our 3 year old on our next flight.

Our first flight with him, he was 16 months, and I held him on my lap and it was miserable. Squirmy, curious, wiggly...my arms were sore for days from holding him. Last year when he was just over 2 we used the Scenera and it was SO much better. He could sit and "read", play with stickers, draw...just like in the car.

So this year will be the same. There's just no way he'd stay seated in a lapbelt, and I would hate to be the parent kicked off b/c my son wedged himself under a seat and refused to come out.

We used the Scenera last time, too. Marathons are HEAVY and HUGE and we finally decided to use something lighter and cheaper for our vacations. DUH!
OP, if you don't need to have a car seat for any portion of your trip after arrival in Orlando, just treat it as luggage once you arrive at your destination. It can ride in the bottom of the bus on ME and sit in your room until needed for the return flight. If you are worried about damage to your expensive car seat in transport, go out and buy a Scenera from Wal-mart. $40 and it's a great travel seat! And there is no way I'd let my (almost!) three-year-old sit in just the lap belt on a plane. The point is to protect the child as much as possible in case of a crash or turbulence, and that lap belt isn't going to do much good. She needs a five-point harness for maximum safety.